Mark Burnett: We can’t release ‘Apprentice’ tapes

MGM has put out a statement claiming it is not able to release raw footage of Donald Trump during his time on the show “The Apprentice” because of contractual obligations.

“MGM owns Mark Burnett’s production company and ‘The Apprentice’ is one of its properties. Despite reports to the contrary, Mark Burnett does not have the ability or the right to release footage or other material from ‘The Apprentice.’ Various contractual and legal requirement also restrict MGM’s ability to release such material,” the statement from MGM and Burnett said in part.

Burnett had been silent about whether he would release tapes from Trump’s years on the reality TV show, which he produced. Speculation had been running throughout the campaign that Trump had turned to Burnett for help during the conventions, something his team denied in July.

The Associated Press — which first reported the cast and crew of the show said Trump would make inappropriate comments during filming — said Saturday they have made repeated requests to Burnett to provide the original “The Apprentice” footage for review earlier this year, but those calls were not returned and neither were follow-up calls this week.

Calls for Burnett to release the footage reached a fever pitch this week after a 2005 tape was unearthed, showing Trump engaging in lewd talk about women with then-“Access Hollywood” host (and now suspended “Today” show host) Billy Bush.

Former “Apprentice” producers have begun coming forward, claiming that raw footage of Trump during the show would also be damaging. But, some of the producers have said, their contracts included a heavy fee if they leaked any of the footage (initially it seems, to prevent spoilers about winners of the contests). Hillary Clinton ally David Brock has pledged to pay any of the fees associated with a leak.

Burnett denied recent reports he had threatened producers to not leak any footage.

“The recent claims that Mark Burnett has threatened anyone with litigation if they were to leak such material are completely and unequivocally false. To be clear, as previously reported in the press, which Mark Burnett has confirmed, he has consistently supported Democratic campaigns,” the statement concludes.